GLOSSARY) OF BOTANICAL TERMS 
Note.—When writing the Cultural Notes, I avoided as far as possible the use of technical and 
botanical terms, and endeavoured to express my meaning in simple English words. However, 
the use of some such terms was inevitable. I have, therefore, arranged this Glossary of commoner 
botanical terms which may assist readers, not only in the use of this book, but also in reading 
other and more technical works on plants.—The Author. 
Acerose. 
Acinaciform. 
Acropetal. 
Acuminate. 
Acute. 
Aduncus. 
Adventitious. 
Allogamy. 
Alternate. 
Anceps. 
Anterior. 
Anther. 
Ascending. 
Axil. 
Axillary. 
Basket. 
Beaked 
Bicornous. 
Bidentate. 
Bifid. 
Bracts. 
Caespitose. 
Calceolate. 
Callus. 
Calyx. 
Canaliculate. 
Capreolate. 
Cernuous. 
Ciliated. 
Cirrhus. 
Claw. 
Compost. 
Compressed. 
Connate. 
Connivent. 
Contorted. 
Cordate. 
Coriaceous. 
Corymb. 
Crenate. 
Cristate. 
Narrow and slender with a sharp claw. 
Shaped like a scimitar. 
Developing from the apex outwards; said of the order in 
which the parts of a plant develop. 
Tapering to a sharp point. 
Sharp-pointed. 
Crooked or hooked. 
Applied to a bud appearing elsewhere than in the axil of a 
leaf, or to roots appearing on stems or leaves. 
Cross fertilization of plants. 
The arrangement of leaves on a stem, first one side, then 
the other. 
Two-edged. 
Part of a flower whorl nearest the pedicel. 
Pollen sac at the top of the stamen. 
Applied to stems which lie prostrate on the ground, and 
then rise perpendicularly. 
The angle between a leaf and the stem. 
Growing in an axil. 
A wooden container for plants, preferably made of teak 
wired with copper. 
Having a sharp point. 
Having two horn-like processes. 
Having two teeth. 
Of a leaf or petal indented to the middle. 
Modified leaves generally situated on a peduncle near the 
flower. 
Growing in tufts. 
Slipper-shaped. 
A hardened part. 
The outer whorl of a flower or sepals. 
Channelled or grooved. 
Having tendrils. 
Nodding or pendulous. 
Fringed with very fine hairs. 
A tendril. 
The base of a petal. 
A mixture of soil and/or other substances in which plants 
are potted. 
Flattened laterally—lengthwise. 
So closely united that cannot be separated without cutting 
or tearing. 
Nearer together at the top than at the base. 
Twisted. 
Heart-shaped. 
Having the consistency of leather. 
An inflorescence in which the upper flowers are sessile, and 
the lower ones stalked so that the flowers are all at 
at the same level. 
Scalloped at the edge. 
Crested. 
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